Prime-mover-control system



July 6 1926.

f R. H- EARLE ET AL.

PRIME MOVER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed August 15, 1924 'tion and claims toindicate any means admitting operating fluid to the prime.

RALPH H. EARLE, OF .VAUWVATOSA, AND CARL SGHINDLER. OF WEST ALLIS, WIS-CONSIN, ASSIGNGRS '10 ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MIL-VJAUKEE, IVISGQNSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PRIME-MOVER-CONTROL SfixlEi'IEfLVI.

Application filed August 15, 1924. Serial No. 732,178.

This invention relates to prime mover or translating device controlsystems. More particularly, it relates to a system whereby the primemover may be stopped. It is especially applicable when it is desired toauto matically apply brakes to a prime mover I or translating device.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a system which willautomatically apply the brakes when the momentum of the prime mover .ortranslating device has decreased to a predetermined value. An otherobject is the provision of a system whereby the brakes will be appliedwhen the power input to the-prime mover r translat ing device and themomentum thereof have been reduced a predetermined amount. Still anotherobject is the provision of a system which will cause the automaticapplication of brakes to a prime mover. or translating device underpredetermined conditions. Other objects will appear hereinafter as thedescription of the invention proceeds.

The novel features of the invention'will appear from this specificationand the accompanying drawing showing two embodiments thereof and formingpart of this specification, and all these novel features are intended tobe pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing of the manner in which the inventionmay be applied in connection with a hydraulic turbine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified detail.

Referring now to Fig. 1, this shows a hymitted to the turbine by meansof a gate 4 which is here shown in the open position, the other parts inthe figure being in the position they assume when the turbine isrunning. It is to be understood that any other means may be utilized foradmitting operating fluid to the prime mover, as for example, the usualguide vanes used in connection with hydraulic turbines. The term gate isused for the sake of brevity in the specifipamover. The gate a is hereshown as pivoted at the point 5 and operable by means of a crank 6connected by a rod 7 to the piston rod of two pistons 8, 9 here shown asoperating in separate cylinders 10, 11 respectively. Any other suitableform of servo-motor may be utilized. The admission of fluid underpressure, usually, but not necessarily, oil, to cylinders 10, 11 iscontrolled by means of a regulating valve 12 provided with two pistonvalves 13, 14 operating in the cylinder 15. The piston valves 18, 14 areadapted when the regulating valve is in the neutral position, as shown,to close the ports of a pair of pipes 16, 17 communicating with cylinder15. Cylinder is here shown as provided with an inlet port locatedbetweenthe piston valves 13, 14, and communicating with a pipe 18 connected toa pressure tank 19. 'Here shown as above and below piston valves 18, 14respectively are drain ports communicating with a drain pipe 20 whichleads to a receiving tank 21. Fluid may be drawn from the receiving tankby means of a motor-driven pump 22 and discharged through a pipe 23 intothe pressure tank 19.

The regulating valve 12 is controlled by means responsive to the speedof the prime mover in the following manner. The piston valves 13, 1d aremounted on and carried by a rod 24 which is here shown as provided witha tube 25 through the upper end of which passes a rod 26 provided atitslower end within the tube 25 with a collar 27. The tube 25, or someother part associated with the regulating valve, is provided with aprojection 76, for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. A spring 28 isdisposed between collar 27 and the end of tube 25. Above the tube 25 therod 26 is provided with a collar 29 between which and a swivel nut 30through which rod 26 passes, is disposed a spring 33. The upper end ofrod 26 is threaded and provided with a nut 31 against which the swivelnut 30 is adapted to act. The swivel nut 30 is pivoted to a floatinglever 32 having a floating pivot 34; positioned in accordance with aspeed responsive device here shown as comprising fly balls 35 which maybe driven from the prime mover in any suitable manner as by means of abelt 36. To the other end of the floating lever 32 is pivoted a rod 37associated with the piston of a dash pot or compensating device 38 whichmay be of usual or any desired form. The compensating device 38 israised and lowered in accordance with gate movement through any suitableconnection, as by means for example, of a bell crank 39 connected bymeans or a rod 40 with a crank ell operating in unison with the gate a.

Here shown as also controlled by the fly balls is another floating lever42 having a floating pivot a3 mounted in a bearing block et. Theposition of the floating pivot l? with respect to that of floating pivot3-1 may be adjusted by means of a screw 45 which is threaded inbearii'ig block a l and in a block 1'6 associated with the floatingpivot To one end of floating lever 4-2 is pivoted a rod 4'? the lowerend ot which passes lr-cely through a projection 18 here shown asassociated with the compensating device 38. The lower end of rod t? isthreaded and provided with a nut 49 which may be engaged by theprojection 48 when the latter moves in a downward direction. The otherend of floating lever 12 has pivoted thereto a link 50 which is in turnpivoted to a valve member 51 operating in a cylinder 54-. The valvemember 51 is connected by means of a rod 52 smaller than the diameter ofcylinder 5-1, to another valve member 53 also operating in cylinder Thevalve members 51, are biased to the position shown in the drawing by anysuitable means, as a spring 55. "ith the parts in the position shown inthe drawing the valve member 53 is adapted to close a port 56communicating with pipe 57 connected with the pressure tank 19 in anysuitable maune Cylinder 5-1- is provided with another port connected toa pipe 59 communicating with one or more brake cylinders 60 in whichpistons 61, here shown as also serving as brake shoes, are adapted tooperate and to be forced against a brake disk (32 or any memberassociated in any suitable manner with shaft 3. The brake shoes 61 maybe biased to the nonapplic-d position by springs as shown or in anyother suitable manner. lylinder 54 is provided with a drain port Clconnected to a pipe 63 and thence to the receiving tank 2]. In theposition or the parts shown the valve member 5]. has uncovered drainport (it thereby permitting fluid to flow from the brake cylinders tothe receiving; tank. It is to be understood that while the brakecylinders (50 are here shown as provided with fluid under pressure:l'ro'm the same tank as t nit for supplying a servo-motor, this is notessential. but separate means for providing a source of supply of fluidunder pressure may be utilized It is further to be understood that theparticular form of valve for controlling the admission of fluid to thebrakes is shown merely by way of illustration.

The operation or" the system of Fig. 1 is as follows. In this figure theparts are all shown in substantially the position they would occu )y itthe turbine were in operation and under load. If it is desired to stopthe turbine, the projection 76 will be depressed in ar suitable mannerthereby lowering tube 25 and compressing spring 23 irrespective of theposition of floating lever 32. The regulating valve 12 is thereforemoved to the gate-closed position thereby admitting fluid under pressurethrough pipe t? to cylinder 10 and forcing piston S to the left asviewed in the drawing. The gate l is therefore moved toward closedposition with a speed depending upon the fluid pressure or upon specialmeans forming no part of this invention. Closure of gate l rocks thebell crank 39 in a counter-clockwise di rection thereby lowering thedash pot 38 and, through the projection 48. the rod 47. The floatinglever 42 therefore rocked in a counter-clockwise direction apredetermined amount depending upon the adjustment of the nut 4-9.Different conditions may demand different adjustments but ordinarilyeven complete closure of gate 4 will notserve to raise valve member 53enough to open port :36. The brakes will therefore not be applied forthe reason that fluid under prossure will not be admitted thereto. \Vhcnhowever the speed of the turbine and the generator 2 "connected theretohave decreased a predetermined amount, as determined by the screw 15.the fly balls will have -aused the floating pivot 43 to risesufliciently so that the right hand end or floating lever 42 will beraised enough to cause valve member to open port 56, thereby admittingfluid under pressure through pipes 57. 59 to the brake cylinder (50whereupon the brakes are applied. At the same time the drain port (ll isclosed by means ot' valve member 51.

It of course apparent that as the gate 4 is being closed the speed ofthe prime move;- will drop so that the fly balls 35 will cause thefloating pivot 4-3 to rise while the rod -l-T being drawn downwards bythe closing movement of the gate. It is however immaterial whether theseactions occur separately or simultaneously. It will be apparent that thebrakes will not be applied. depending upon the adjustments, until thepower input to the turbine has been reduced to zero or some otherpredetermined amount and the n'ioinentum of the rotating parts has beenreduced a predetermined amount, thus preventing undue shock in theapplication of the brakes and also undue. wear on the brake shoes.

Referring now to Fig. 2, this shows a somewhatmodified form of controlfor the valve which controls the application of the brakes. The flyballs are not shown in this figure as they are concealed beneath thehousing 66 for the governor parts. A shaft 67 is associated with the flyballs and is adapted to be raised vertically by the fly balls as thespeed increases and lowered as the. speed decreases. The floating lever32 carried by the floating pivot34t corresponds to the similar parts inFig. l. The floating lever 32 is here shown as carrying in any suitablemanner an adjustable screw 68 which is adapted to act against one end ofa floating lever 42 provided with a floating pivot 69. The other end offloating lever 42 has pivoted thereto, in this instance, a link 70 theother end of which may be pivoted to one end of a lever 71 having astationary pivot 72. The other end of lever 71 carries an adjustablescrew 73 which is adapted to be engaged by the top 7a of the dashpot 38corresponding to the similar part in Fig. 1. The floating pivot 69 iscarried by an operating rod of a valve 5st, which valve corre sponds tothe valve including cylinder 54 of Fig. 1. The operating rod of valve 54is biased upwardly by means here shown as a spring 75. Downward motionof floating pivot 69 and therefore of the operating rod of valve 54 isadapted to admit fluid under pressure to the brake cylinders in a mannersimilar to that disclosed in connection with Fig. 1. I

The operation of the modification of Fig. 2 is as follows. The parts areshown in this ligure in the position that they have when the prime moveris operating at normal speed. lVhen the gate closes a predeterminedamount the top 74 of the dash pot engages screw 73 thereby tending todepress floating pivot 69 provided the screw 68 has been lowered, by areduction in speed, so as to engage lever 42. Or, if the dash pot 88engages screw 73 first, then a decrease in speed will lower screw 68which engages lever 42 thereby depressing the operating rod of valve54..

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction shown and described, for obviousmodifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a system for stopping a translating device, means for reducing thepower input into said translating device, means for absorbing energyfrom said translatingdevice, and means operatively connecting saidenergy absorbing means to said translating device in response to apredetermined reduction in said power input and in momentum of saidtranslating device.

2. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime mover, and means forsetting said brake when said gate has been closed a predeterminedamount, and the speed of said prime mover has fallen to a predeterminedvalue.

3. In a control system for a'prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime mover, meansresponsive to the speed of said prime mover, means positioned inaccordance with the position of said gate, and means under the jointcontrol of said last two named means for setting said brake.

4 In a control system for a prime mover, brake for said prime mover,means responsive to the speed of said prime mover, and means controlledby said speed responsive means for setting said brake in response to areduction in speed to a predetermined value.

5. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, means for operating said gate, meansresponsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling saidoperating means, a brake for said prime mover, and means controlled bysaid speed responsive means for setting said brake.

6. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, aregulating valve for saidservomotor, means responsive to the speed ofsaid prime mover for controlling said servo-motor, a brake for saidprime mover, and means controlled by said speed responsive means forsetting said brake. I i

7. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, a servo-motor for operating said gate, aregulating valve for said servo motor, means responsive to the speed ofsaid prime mover for controlling said servo-motor, a brake for saidprime mover, and means including fluid pressure operated meanscontrolled by said speed responsive means for causing setting of saidbrake.

8. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admitting operatingfluid to said prime mover, means for operating said gate, control meansfor said operating means, a floating lever, means responsive to thespeed of said prime mover for controlling said floating lever, aconnection between said floating lever and said control means for saidoperating means, a brake for said prime mover, and means operativelyrelated to said floating lever for controlling the setting of saidbrake.

9. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperatingfluid to said prime mover, a floating lever, means responsive to the.speed of said prime mover for controlling said floating lever, meanspositioned in accordance with said gate for controlling one portion ofsaid floating lever, a brake for said prime mover, and means forcontrolling the setting of said brake controlled by another portion ofsaid floating lever.

10. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a floating lever, means responsiveto the speed 01 said prime mover for controlling said floating lever,means for adjusting the controlling eti ect of said speed responsivemeans on said floating lever, means positioned in accordance vvitli saidgate for controlling one portion of said floating lever, a brake forsaid prime mover, and means for controlling; the setting ot said brakecontrolled by another portion of said floating lever.

11. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a floating lever, means responsiveto the speed of said prime mover for controlling said floating lever,means positioned in accordance with said gat for controlling one portionof said floating lev r, n'ieans "for adjusting the controlling effect ofsaid last named means on said floating lever, a brake for said primemover, and means for controlling the setting of said brake controlled byanother portion of said floating lever.

12. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a floating lever, means respoirsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling said floatinglever, means for adjusting the controlling eii'ect of aid speedresponsive means on said float g lever, means positioned in accordanceth said gate for controlling one portion of said floating lever, meansfor adjusting the controlling etlectolsaidlastnamed means on saidfloating lover, a brake for said prime mover, and means for controllingthe setting oi said brake controlled by another portion of said floatinglever.

13. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for controlling theadmission of operating fluid to said prime mover, a bralie for saidprime mover, means for setting said brake, means responsive to the speedof said prime mover, and means for adjustably predetermining the spe dand gate opening at which said brake setting means will he caused toact.

14;. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime mover,control means for said brake. means responsive to the speed of saidprime mover l'or controlling said control means, and a lost motionconnection between said control means and said gate.

15. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime mover,control means for said brake, means responsive to the speed of saidprime mover for controlling said control means, and an adjust-able lostmotion connection between said control means and said gate.

16. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime mover,control means for said brake having an operating element, a floatinglever having its floating pivot connected to said operating element,means positioned in accordance with said gate operatively related withone end of said floating lever, means responsive to the speed of saidprime mover, and means whereby said speed responsive means may control.the other end of said floating lever.

17. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, a brake for said prime movcr,control means for said brake having an operating element, a floatinglever having its floating pivot connected to said operating element,means positioned in accordance with said gate operatively related withone end of said floating lever, a servo-motor for operating said gate, aregulating valve for said servo-motor, means responsive to the speed ofsaid prime mover for controlling said regulating valve, and meanswhereby said speed responsive means may control the other end of saidfloating lever.

18. In a control system for a prime mover, a gate for admittingoperating fluid to said prime mover, means for operating said gate,means responsive to the speed of said prime mover for controlling saidoperating means, a brake for said prime mover. and means controlled bysaid speed responsive. means for setting said ljl'zllU: in response to areduction in speed to a PI'LtlPt'QlITliilBtl value.

In testimony whereof, the signatures of the inventors are aflixedhereto.

RALPH H. EARL'E. CARL SCHINDLER.

